Ch. 4, NTL team for on-demand

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LONDON -- U.K. cabler NTL Telewest said Friday it has pacted with U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 to make the broadcaster's output available on demand across the cable platform.

It marks a first for NTL Telewest's 2.8 million digital TV service subscribers, who will now be able to catch up on the Channel 4 schedule.

Also being made available are classic Channel 4 shows such as "Shameless," "Queer As Folk," "Drop the Dead Donkey" and "Jamie's School Dinners," the cabler said.

The three-year contract will provide cable customers with hundreds of hours of Channel 4 programming. The content "will be refreshed on a regular basis and will include a seven-day, free catch-up service for the majority of Channel 4's primetime TV schedule," the parties said.

Channel 4 new business director Rod Henwood said in a statement that he wants to extend the broadcaster's release.

"It is a major step toward making Channel 4 content available on demand across multiple platforms and lays the foundation for the launch of our bespoke on-demand service later this year," Henwood said.

Added NTL Telewest chief operating officer Ernie Cormier: "Today's announcement is a mega deal for our customers, who now have access to even more great content from Channel 4."